Fluid strainer



Oct. 6, 1931. J DUGGAN 1,826,170

FLUID STRAINER Filed Aug. 28, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 15 QILIKIMIMF 7Z7 I npenlor J. P. DUGGAN FLUID STRAINER v Oct. 6, 1931.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 28, 1930 Patented Oct. 6, 1931 JOHN P. DUGGAN OF LONG ISLAND CITY, NEW YORK FLUID STRAINER Application filed August 28, 1930. Serial No. 478,450.

This invention relates to improvements in fluid strainers, and has particular reference to a device for straining gasoline from its source of supply in the tank of a motor vehicle to the carburetor of the motor i 5 the motor, would cause loss of power thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide a strainer device in which the gasoline is drawn from a point adjacent the top of the level of the liquid supply at all times, and

"20 which never permits the fuel contents of the tank to be fully exhausted, it being understood that any sediment in the tank tends to settle upon the bottom thereof, hence the liquid fuel covering the bottom of the tank and 25 mixed with the sediment is never drawn to the working part of the motor fed thereby. A further object of the invention is the "provision of a strainer device in which the inlet end of the gasoline supply line is supported within the tank upon a float, so as to be supported just below the liquid level of the tank, and means for accommodating the raising and lowering of the float and for bracing the float against lateral movement during the swishing of the tank contents so as to avoid strains upon the working parts. With these and other objects in view, the invention resides in the certain novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts, the essential features of which are hereinafter fully described. are particularly pointed out in the appended claims, and are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in

which Figure 1 is a rear elevational view of a motor vehicle showing the gasoline supply tank in longitudinal section with my improvedstrainer device mounted therein.

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view of the strainer device per se.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view through the liquid supply tank with parts of my invention broken away in section. v

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the strainer device per se.

Referring to the drawings by reference characters, the numeral designates the liquid fuel supply tank of a motor vehicle 11, and which is provided with the usual filling opening 12 through which the tank may be filled with gasoline or other liquid fuel. In addition to the usual filling opening, the top of the tank is provided with an opening 13 through which my improved strainer device now to be described is inserted into po sition within the tank and the said opening sealed in a manner to be hereinafter eX- plained.

Bolted or otherwise secured to the tank 10 and covering the opening 13 is a cover or attaching plate 14%, there being a gasket 15 between these plates and the tank for sealing the said opening against the entrance of air into the tank for leakage of the contents of the tank therethrough. An elbow 16 is connected to the upper side of the cover plate 1 1 through a coupling 17 and connected to the elbow 16 is a fuel supply pipe 17 which leads to the carburetor 0f the motor of the vehicle 11. Connected to the cover plate 14 and depending from the under side thereof is an elbow 18, the passage in the elbows 16 and 18 communicating so as to provide an uninterrupted passage from the fuel supply pipe 17 through the coupling 17 for a purpose which will be fully understood. Connected to the elbow 18 is one end of a flexible metal tube 19, the opposite end of the said tube being connected to one end of a short length 90 of pipe or tubing 20 by means of coupling or oint 21, the opposite end of the tube 20 is bent at an angle and provided with an enlarged head 22, the end of the head being rounded and threadedly receiving an inlet 95 nozzle 23, the open end of the nozzle being protected by a screen 24.

Associated with the nozzle 23 is a float member 25 constructed of cork or other like buoyant material, the same being provided 109 with a centrally located chamber which communicates with the outer side or the float member through passages 27, the outer ends of the passages being cove d by screens or the like 28. The chamber 26 opens both on the under side and the upper side of the floatmember 25,.the lower side of the chamber be" ing closed by aplate 29 and the upper side by a plate 30, the two plates being secured by bolts or like fastening elements. The plate 30 is provided with a centrally disposed opening 31 for the passage of the nozzle 23 and which opening is sufiiciently large enough'to permit of the free turningot thefloat upon the nozzle. By reference to Figure 3, it will be seen that this construction permits the nozzle end ol 'the fuel supply'pipe'to extend within the ch amber 26 of the float and be sup ported in a position slightly below the liquid level of the tank contents.

A pivot bolt 32 extends trans-Wersely through the head of the pipe and tl'irough alined openings provided in socket members 33 respectively disposed on opposite sides of the pipe or tube 20. The socket members 33am yieldmgjly held against opposite sides of the head 22 by a spring; of mounted on the pivot bolt 32 which spring; abuts one side 01 one of the socket members and a waslr oi the pivot bolt.

er fixedly connected-to the extending end Extendinginto the respective socket members83 are oneend ot brace rods 36, the said rods being disposed in converging; relation withrespect to caclrother \vl iletheir opposite ends are bent at an angi le-to'pro ide trunnions 37 which have their hearings in ears'38 extending downwardly from the'undersideof the cover plate 1-1 and which ea sprea l movement caused by any pressure exonupon the floatmember to move the samev in alateral direction. rrny lateralmovement of the'float25 is also compensate l forby reason of the samebeing; turnably mounted upon the nozzle '23, and which lateral. movement may be caused bythe-swishing of the liquid contents of the tank during thetravel ofthc motor vedescribed will eliminate the possibility of any sediment -Wl1iCl111]1flit QCClllfllllfiieili the bottom of theta nkitrom being drawn through the gas line 17 and to the carburetor of the motor vehicle. The nozzle23 is always supported adjacent the top of the liquid level and cannottouch the bottom of the tank,

therefore a certain quantity of fluid will remain in the tank at all times, it being understood that any sediment or water which might enter the tank will remain therein and will not be drawn to the working part of the motor.

Vhile I have shown and described. what I deem to be the most desirable embodiment of my invention, 1 wish it to be understood. that various chan es in the construction may be-resorted-to if desired, and I do not limit myself to the exact structural details herein set'torth, nor to anything less than the whole of my invention, limited only by the ap pended claims.

.I-Iaving-thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In combination with a liquid fuel supply .tank, a float member within said tank having a chamber therein opening to the outside of said float member, flexible supply pipe having inlet end extending into said tank and terminating in said chamber, means for facilitating the vertical and lateralmovc- .ments of saidfloat member due to the changing of the liquid level in said tank, and brace means associated with the inlet end or said pipe and automatically adjustable to the vertical and lateral movemeutsot said pipe.

2. .A strainer device for liquid fuel tanks comprising a flexible pipe, an attaching plate ,to which one end of said pipe is connected, "the other end of said pipe being angular-1y disposed, a float-member having a chamber therein opening throu h to the outside of said iloat'mcmbcr, the an larly disposed end of said pipe extending into said chamber and being connected to-said float member, sockets pivotally mounted on said pipe, and brace rods .pivotaily connected to said attaching plate and freely extending into said socket.

A; strainer device for liquid tanks comprising a flexible pipe adapted to be fixedly connect-ed atone end, a hollow-float member having openings therein, the opposite end of said pipe extending into said float member and being turnably connected thereto, brace rods, and, resilient connecting" means between said brace rods and said pipe to facilitate lateral and vertical.movements of said pipe and float member.

In testimony whereof I alli 1-; my signature.

JOHN P. DUG hill. 

